Baby bottle holder



Aug. 28, 1956 D. M. ALGER BABY BOTTLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May6, 1955 23, 1955 D. M. ALGER BABY BOTTLE HOLDER 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 I FiledMay 6, 1953 I N VEN TOR Dcww l'msi/ww 91 44/,

United States Patent BABY BOTTLE HOLDER David Madison Alger, FallsChurch, Va.

Application May 6, 1953, Serial No. 353,294

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-407) My invention relates broadly to baby bottleholders and more particularly to a construction of baby bottle holderwhich may be fabricated from wire forming a frame carrier for supportinga bottle in feeding position with respect to a baby and which is capableof being readily pushed away by the baby whenever there is no furtherfeeding inclination.

One of the objects of my invention to to provide a baby bottle holderfor infants which is formed from a single length of wire bent uponitself and connected endto-end to form a support for a baby bottle whichis so angularly inclined as will facilitate the gravitational feeding ofmilk or formula from the bottle and wherein the frame is sufficientlyresilient to enable the frame to be retained in position over the chestof the baby, the frame being so pliable and deformable that it may beformed to meet various requirements respecting size, shape and positionfor facilitating feeding of the baby.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of Wireframe support for a baby bottle having a longitudinally extending bridgeinterconnecting end portions of the frame and wherein the bridge carriesspaced elastic bands expansible and contractible for readily insortingand removing a baby bottle with respect to the frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of wireframe forming a baby bottle holder in which a single length of wire bentupon itself constitutes the frame with a looped section of the wireforming a longitudinal bridge interconnecting end portions of the frameand wherein the terminus of the looped section forms a junction with theopposite ends of the wire constituting the frame for completing thebottle support.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a baby bottlesupport constituted by a single wire element including a centrallongitudinally extending bridge and spaced elastic bands for embracingand holding a baby bottle wherein a single binding tape is provided forcovering the wire element binding the elastic bands in spacedb0ttle-holding positions and also binding the wire ends of the frame andthe longitudinal bridge in a single assembly.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a fabricated framefor holding a baby bottle in feeding position as set forth more fully inthe specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the baby bottle holder of myinvention showing the bottle in position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 andillustrating particularly the dual structure of the longitudinallyextending wire bridge constituting part of the frame of the device of myinvention;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the bottle holder showing the the bottle inposition, the bottle being viewed in transverse section;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the framewith the bottle in position thereon when mounted to straddle the chestof the baby may be readily pushed away without discomfort to the baby;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing the baby bottle holder inposition for feeding;

Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating the baby bottle holder in feedingposition;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the baby bottle holder of my inventionand showing particularly the elastic bands in position for receiving afeeding bottle;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the baby bottle holder illustratingparticularly the central longitudinally extending bridge and the mannerof mounting the elastic bands in spaced positions thereon for supportingthe baby bottle;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary viewpartially in section,illustrating the juncture of the longitudinally extending bridge and theopposite end of the wire element forming the frame of the baby bottleholder; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 9and illustrating particularly the mount ing of one of the elastic bandson the longitudinal bridge of the frame of the baby bottle holder.

My invention is directed to a construction of baby bottle holder whichmay be inexpensively fabricated from a single length of wire which isformed into a frame which is pliable and deformable so that it may bereadily set into a position comfortably conforming with the shape andsize of the baby for meeting various conditions encountered infacilitating the feeding of infants. The pliable wire frame is providedwith end portions interconnected by side portions which form pliablebody engaging means for the baby for maintaining the bottle holder inconvenient feeding position. The end portions of the frame areinterconnected by a central longitudinally extending wire bridge. Thiswire bridge is formed by two sections of the wire arranged laterallyside by side for forming a support for the bottle. The two sections ofthe wire form a looped terminus aligned with one of the end portions ofthe wire frame. The terminus of the loop and the opposite end of thewire constituting the frame are bonded in a junction which insures astructurally stable support for the baby bottle. The centrallongitudinally extending bridge carries a pair of spaced elastic bandswhich are expansible and contractible to permit the ready insertion orremoval of a baby bottle. A wrapping in the form of a tape is appliedspirally around the two sections of wire forming the longitudinallyextending bridge and serves to mount the elastic bands thereon andsubstantially cover the bridge and the junction of the looped terminusof the bridge with the opposite ends of the Wire frame.

I have observed that babies often reach for the sides of the frame ofthe device and pull the frame forward to feed from the baby bottle. Theframe while resiliently engaging the body of the baby, during normalfeeding positions, is readily disengaged and pushed away by the baby atthe end of the desired feeding period and without any apparentdiscomfort to the baby.

Referring to the drawings in more detail the wire from which the frameis formed is shaped as illustrated more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9,following a path designated by free end 1 and extending vertically to anupper extremity designated at 2 and then depending to form a sidesupport by bends at positions 3 and 4 returning to an extreme upperposition at 5 where the wire is bent downwardly and extendedtransversely to a position 6. As shown more clearly in Fig. 9, the wireat position 6 is extended longitudinally as represented at 7 to an endterminus in alignment with the plane of the opposite end portion of theframe. At the end terminus, wire 7 is' looped forming a looped terminusand is returned as represented at 8 in a position disposed laterallywith respect to the section of wire 7 as shown more particularly inFigs. 3 and 11. The return section of the wire 8 is bent at 9 andextended upwardly as represented at 10 in alignment with the upperextension forming an end portion for supporting the end of the babybottle 17. The wire frame is continued from the position downwardly toprovide a supporting side represented at 11 and 12. The wire frameextends upwardly in position 12 to the upper extremity 13 where it formsa support for the forward end of the bottle in reaction with the upperextremity 2 of the frame. The terminating end 13 of the wire is alignedwith the commencement end of the wire at 1 and bonded to the loopedterminus of the wire sections 7 and 8. The upper extensions 5 and 10 arecoplanar. Similarly, the upper extensions 2 and 13 are coplanar andrespectively serve as supports for the rear and front ends of thebottle.

The longitudinally extending bridge formed by wire sections 7 and 8serves as a mounting means for the spaced elastic bands 14 and 15 whichare taped into position on the longitudinally extending bridge by meansof tape 16 which is spirally wrapped around the wire sections 7 and 8and serves as a covering for the free ends of the wire at 1 and 14 andthe looped terminus of the sections of wire 7 and 8. The junctionbetween the free ends 1 and 14 and the looped terminus is formed bywelding or soldering the wires. It will be observed that the wire usedis plastic covered as represented by the covering 18 and that thejunction is established by cutting off the plastic covering at the freeends of the wire at the positions 1 and 14 and at the looped terminus ofthe wire sections 7 and 8. The space left by the removed plastic,however, is amply padded and equalized by the tape 16 thereby renderingthe entire frame sanitary and washable from time to time.

The bottle 17 is shown supported in an inclined position by reason ofthe fact that the end frame constituted by upwardly extendingprojections 5 and 1%) has a greater height than the end frameconstituted by upwardly extending sections 2 and 13. The projectionsshown at 5 and 10 are spaced more widely than the projections 2 and 13to accommodate the bottle holder to bottles of tapered wall style. Theelastic bands 14 and 15 are expansible and contractible to readilyaccommodate bottles of various styles. In the arrangement shown it willbe noted that band 15 is expanded to a diameter larger than the expandeddiameter of band 14.

The feeding nipple on the bottle 17 is shown at 19.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the manner in which the baby soon becomes accustomedto gripping the side portions of the wire frame and drawing the feedingnipple to a position for the most effective feeding. After a feedingperiod has been completed the baby, as indicated in Fig. 5 by dottedlines 29, may readily push the frame of the bottle holder which I haverepresented generally at 21, with the bottle 17 in position therein,away on the surface of the crib designated at 22. There are no confiningattachments between the frame 21 and the baby designated at 20.

While the wire frame is resilient and is capable of straddling andgripping the chest of the baby as represented in Figs. 6 and 7 there isno apparent discomfort from such slight gripping action and this mayalways be adjusted by reason of the pliable and deformable properties ofthe wire which enable the frame to be set to any desired shape andposition.

I have found the baby bottle holder of my invention very efiective andsuccessful in operation and although I have described my invention incertain preferred embodiments I realize that modifications may be madeand I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my inventionare intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. A bottle holder comprising a wire frame constituted by pliable anddeformable wire settable in positions to which it is formed about thebody of a baby, said wire frame having end portions interconnected byintegral side portions forming pliable body-engaging side portions, :1central longitudinally extending wire bridge interconnecting the endportions of said frame in a position above the lower limits of the sideportions of the frame, a pair of spaced fiat elastic bands constitutingbottle supports mounted on said longitudinally extending bridge forconfining a bottle in position thereon, and a binding tape spirallywrapped over said longitudinally extending wire bridge and through saidfiat elastic bands, said tape constituting both a securing means formounting said elastic bands in spaced positions and a binding forcovering said bridge.

2. A bottle holder comprising a wire frame constituted by pliable anddeformable wire settable in positions to which it is formed on oppositesides of the body of a baby, said wire frame having end portions ofdifferent heights interconnected by side portions forming pliablebody-engaging side portions, a central longitudinally extending Wirebridge interconnecting the centers of the end portions of said frameabove the lower limits of said side portions and a pair of spaced fiatelastic band; constituting bottle supports mounted on saidlongitudinally extending bridge for confining a bottle in positionthereon, said longitudinally extending bridge being disposed on anincline for supporting the bottle in a gravita tional draining positionimmediately above said longitudinally extending bridge.

3. A bottle holder comprising a wire frame constituted by a singlestrand of pliable and deformable wire bent upon itself and connectedend-to-end and settable in positions to which it is formed on oppositesides of the body of a baby, said wire frame having end portionsinterconnected by side portions forming pliable body-engaging sideportions, a central longitudinally extending wire bridge interconnectingthe centers of the end portions of said frame in a position above thelower limits of the side portions of the frame and being looped uponitself, the terminus of the loop of said longitudinally extending wirebridge being connected with the terminating ends of the wireconstituting said frame, and spaced fiat elastic bands constitutingbottle supports mounted on said longitudinally extending bridge forconfining a bottle in position thereon.

4. A bottle holder comprising a wire frame constituted by pliable anddeformable wire bent upon itself and con nected end-to-end and settablein positions to which it is formed on opposite sides of the body of ababy, said wire frame having end portions interconnected by sideportions forming pliable body-engaging side portions, :1 centrallongitudinally extending wire bridge interconnecting the centers of theend portions of said frame in a position above the lower limits of saidside portions, said bridge being looped upon itself, the terminus of theloop of said longitudinally extending bridge being connected with theend-to-end connection of the wire constituting said frame, a pair ofspaced flat elastic bands constituting bottle supports and a single tapespirally wrapped around said longitudinally extending bridge and throughsaid elastic bands and forming a binding means for securing said elasticbands in spaced positions along said bridge and covering saidlongitudinally extending bridge, the terminus of the loop therein, andthe end-to-end connection of said frame.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Dulac Aug. 10, 1920 Lacklen May 4, 1926 NickelsonDec. 18, 1945 Greenberg Aug. 23, 1949 Curry Oct. 17, 1950 Needham Dec.1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS France of 1951 OTHER REFERENCES The WashingtonDaily News, page 6, Oct. 1, 1951.

